Berg hat-trick wins the league title for Al Ain
Al Ain were crowned Arabian Gulf League champions for the 13th time in their history thanks to a Marcus Berg's hat-trick in an emphatic 4-0 win over Al Nasr at Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in matchweek 21 of the competition. The advertisement boards and big screens at the stadium displayed congratulation messages for Their Highnesses Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed on the sporting successes of the presidency camels, Godolphin Stables and Manchester City Football Club respectively. Berg opened the scoring for the visitors in the 34th minute with his 20th of the season, after Hussein El Shahat advanced on the left flank before supplying a through pass to Omar Abdulrahman whose effort was tipped by goalkeeper Ahmed Shambih into the path of the Swede who tapped in from point-blank to make it 1-0 for Al Ain. Just as the game was headed toward the half time break, Berg popped up again, powering in a header after Caio Fernandes' curled cross from the left wing in the 44th minute. Despite Shambih's best efforts to rescue, Berg's header crossed the line declaring a 2-0 lead for the Boss at half time. The striker extended his lead at the top of the goal scoring charts with his 22nd goal of the campaign, completing his hat-trick in the 62nd minute. The Swedish international outmuscled his marker to get on the end of Rayan Yaslam's cross from the left wing to make it 3-0. Substitute Ahmed Khalil rounded the scoring with Al Ain's fourth in added time. The UAE international curled at the bottom corner to convert Omar Abdulrahman's through pass following a quick break to complete the rout for the Boss. The 15th win of the campaign means Al Ain move up to 50 points, six clear of their nearest chasers Al Wahda who fell to a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Ajman at Zayed Sport City.
